CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	Public Works		Commission Meeting Date:  December 13, 2016
Staff Contact:	Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Approve the process, standards of acceptance and policy for the dedication of a private street to become a public street of the City of Lawrence.
Executive Summary:		When certain subdivisions were established and/or platted, owners of the property desired certain streets to be privately owned. Private streets are accessible to by the public, but owners of private streets choose to designate the streets as such for various reasons (e.g. reducing zoning setbacks or to use other construction standards different from those required for a public street). Today private streets are required to be built to current standards (subgrade, thickness, etc.).  Maintenance of streets and clearing of snow on a private street is the sole responsibility of the owners of the property.  The City periodically receives requests from home owners and HOAs for the City to accept these private streets and provide maintenance, repair, snow plowing and other services. Presented for the Commission’s consideration is a policy that formalizes the process that staff has historically followed when such requests are made.  If approved, the policy would officially standardize this process that is currently in place so that owners and HOAs would know the standards and process for the City to review, receive and accept (if appropriate) the dedication of a private street to become a public city street.
Strategic Goal Area:		Infrastructure
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		Adoption of the policy will not result in a direct fiscal impact on the City. An objective of the policy is to mitigate the City’s costs and liabilities resulting from the acceptance of private streets.
Attachments:		Proposed Policy

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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